No holiday travel for me this year, thanks to... whatever you call "Scrooges" at Thanksgiving time. But at least I'll be able to watch my favorite Thanksgiving movie:
I made an abbreviated version of the meal overnight -- including a slow-roasted turkey that cooked for 20 hours so it would be ready in the morning -- and my wife and I ate it before she had to go off to work. This "let's stay open on Thanksgiving so we can make the shopping season one day longer!" meant we missed the traditional trip to visit my parents, although I did send their grandson.
So, for me, once the wife went off to work for the day it was a day of being alone. She got home at 10 PM, and then had to be up at 5 again to report back for the Black Friday sales.
Doing that to your employees on Thanksgiving makes sense to me if you're running a hospital or an ambulance service, maybe. It makes sense if you're in a warzone -- as you know, I spent two Thanksgivings in a row in Iraq, and we didn't get a day off! But it strikes me as a brutal and inappropriate way of leveraging moneymaking over family when applied to people who work in, say, art and art supplies.
Of course, employers wouldn't do it if Americans would stay home with their friends and family instead of rushing to the stores for bargains. Once again, it comes down to what has become of our culture.
Anyway, the turkey was delicious. Much more moist and tender than any I've had, and not any harder to make. You just had to devote the oven to it for longer, but mostly that was the day before or while you slept.
Of course, employers wouldn't do it if Americans would stay home with their friends and family instead of rushing to the stores for bargains. Once again, it comes down to what has become of our culture.
Bingo :p
I worked in retail for many years, and still absolutely refuse to shop on Thanksgiving, the day after, or even on cyber Monday. Some things are more important than saving a few bucks (though I can see how some families might turn shopping into a family activity!)
I will admit to sometimes longing for the way things were when I was growing up: blue laws, stores refusing to open on holidays, etc. It definitely meant one had to plan ahead, but there are some advantages over our "always on" world.
I can remember driving around on Thanksgiving as a teenager (with a newly minted driver's license I was hot to use for any excuse), just to see all the stores shuttered. It was such an amazing departure from the everyday that it made clear how special this day was.
Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. We drove to my mother in law's in Virginia.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten how nice it is not to do the whole dinner :)
I made an abbreviated version of the meal overnight -- including a slow-roasted turkey that cooked for 20 hours so it would be ready in the morning -- and my wife and I ate it before she had to go off to work. This "let's stay open on Thanksgiving so we can make the shopping season one day longer!" meant we missed the traditional trip to visit my parents, although I did send their grandson.
ReplyDeleteSo, for me, once the wife went off to work for the day it was a day of being alone. She got home at 10 PM, and then had to be up at 5 again to report back for the Black Friday sales.
Doing that to your employees on Thanksgiving makes sense to me if you're running a hospital or an ambulance service, maybe. It makes sense if you're in a warzone -- as you know, I spent two Thanksgivings in a row in Iraq, and we didn't get a day off! But it strikes me as a brutal and inappropriate way of leveraging moneymaking over family when applied to people who work in, say, art and art supplies.
Of course, employers wouldn't do it if Americans would stay home with their friends and family instead of rushing to the stores for bargains. Once again, it comes down to what has become of our culture.
Anyway, the turkey was delicious. Much more moist and tender than any I've had, and not any harder to make. You just had to devote the oven to it for longer, but mostly that was the day before or while you slept.
Of course, employers wouldn't do it if Americans would stay home with their friends and family instead of rushing to the stores for bargains. Once again, it comes down to what has become of our culture.
ReplyDeleteBingo :p
I worked in retail for many years, and still absolutely refuse to shop on Thanksgiving, the day after, or even on cyber Monday. Some things are more important than saving a few bucks (though I can see how some families might turn shopping into a family activity!)
I will admit to sometimes longing for the way things were when I was growing up: blue laws, stores refusing to open on holidays, etc. It definitely meant one had to plan ahead, but there are some advantages over our "always on" world.
I can remember driving around on Thanksgiving as a teenager (with a newly minted driver's license I was hot to use for any excuse), just to see all the stores shuttered. It was such an amazing departure from the everyday that it made clear how special this day was.
ReplyDelete